Rockets’ Harden earns player of the week honors

Averaging a league-best 35.3 points per game, Rockets guard James Harden was named the Western Conference Player of the Week on Monday.

Milwaukee Bucks point guard Brandon Jennings received the East player of the week honor.

Harden, acquired in an Oct. 27 trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder, guided the Rockets to a 2-1 start. The bearded swingman scored 37 points, dished out 12 assists, grabbed six rebounds and collected four steals in his Rockets’ debut, a 105-96 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Halloween night.

Harden followed that performance with a career-high 45 points in a 109-102 win over the Atlanta Hawks Friday. The next night in the Rockets’ home opener, he had 24 points, six rebounds and five assists in a 95-85 overtime loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.

Harden joined Larry Bird, Michael Jordan and Dwyane Wade as the only NBA players in the last 25 years to post at least 37 points, 12 assists, six rebounds, four steals and one block in a single game. His 37 points was the third-highest point total for any Rocket player in his debut, while the 82 points he scored in the Rockets’ first two outings was the most by any NBA player in his first two games with a team in NBA history.

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See the best photos from the Rockets’ home opener.

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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Rockets guard James Harden led the team in points for the third consecutive game.

Rockets guard James Harden led the team in points for the third consecutive game.

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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The Rockets gave coach Kevin McHale reason to yell against the Trail Blazers.

The Rockets gave coach Kevin McHale reason to yell against the Trail Blazers.